Student Blackboard Tutorials
Introduction to Blackboard
What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a course management system. Only your instructor and the students registered in your
class will access the Blackboard area for your course. This area acts as a website for your course -storing documents such as the syllabus, assignment information, handouts, etc.
Other Blackboard features include course announcements, discussion boards, chats, sending e-mail,
an online gradebook, quizzes, surveys, submitting assignments, and group areas. Your instructor will
chose features that are appropriate for your course.
Main Navigation Area Tutorial
The main navigation area for your Blackboard course is at the left side of the browser window. This
area is customized by your instructor. It will look slightly different for each course you take, but the
general function is the same -- to help you navigate around the course. You will use the links in this
area to navigate throughout your course. Note that the navigation bar for each course you take may
look slightly different.
The image below shows a typical online course.
Even though the exact navigation on your course may be different, let's take a closer look at navigation
links in the sample above at the right.
Introduction to Blackboard
Copyright © 2005 Terry Morris, Sarah Stark, Harper College
Page 1 of 2
Student Blackboard Tutorials
Each navigation link in the sample is listed below with a brief description.

Announcements
Access this area to view important up-to-the-minute information about your course. This is
the first page you will normally see when you login to your course.

Faculty
Virtually meet your professor and find out important contact information. This area is
sometimes named "Faculty Information" or “Staff Information”.

Syllabus
View important information that includes the course syllabus. This area is sometimes named
"Course Information".

Course Schedule
View the schedule and due dates for the course. This area is sometimes named "Timeline" or
"Course Information".

Course Material
View presentations, notes, and other information related to assignments. Some instructors list
the course modules or sessions here. This area is sometimes named “Course Documents” or
“Assignments”.

Discussion Board
Participate in online discussions and communicate with your classmates and professor in this
area. Some instructors have configured the Discussion Board to be the first page you will see
when you login and select your course.

Communication
Access this area to send email, participate in online discussions (Discussion Board) and live
chat (Virtual Classroom), work online with your assigned group (Group Pages), and learn
more about your classmates (Roster).

Resources
View related articles and web sites as provided. This area is sometimes named "Web Sites".

Student Tools
Access this area to check your grade online (My Grades), and access other tools such as a
class calendar and a class address book.

Harper Library
Displays the library's home page in a new browser window.

Technical Support
Displays the Blackboard Technical Support home page in a new browser window. Click this
link if you need help using Blackboard.

Course Map
Select this area to quickly view a hierarchical map of the course materials
Introduction to Blackboard
Copyright © 2005 Terry Morris, Sarah Stark, Harper College
Page 2 of 2